Scottish Fire and Rescue is reminding residents to ensure that their homes and buildings are protected by smoke alarms after tackling a fire within a three-storey block of flats in Glasgow’s Southside.

An SFRS spokesperson said: “Firefighters reached the incident within six minutes and discovered a fire within the communal close on the ground floor.

“They quickly extinguished it using a high pressure jet and after putting out the flames they remained in attendance to make sure everyone was accounted for and also ventilate the building.

“A fire within a close is always extremely serious as the toxic smoke produced can trap people in their homes and even enter properties some distance from the flames.

“Our message to everyone is to help reduce the risk by making sure communal areas, landings and stairwells are always kept clear of items that could be involved in a fire or that could impede people’s escape. And we would again appeal for everyone to make sure their homes are protected by working smoke alarms.

“When fire does strike early warning is vital to preventing injuries and deaths and minimising the damage to property.

In a bid to remove potential fire hazards, commercial buildings and non-domestic premises in Scotland are already forced to carry out a fire safety risk assessment under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, in conjunction with the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, if the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the enforcing authority has the power to prosecute the Dutyholder.

Original source

Scottish Fire and Rescue